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Preserving Indonesia

Updated March 27, 2001 12:01 a.m. ET

By R. William Liddle, a professor of political science at Ohio State University.

I ndonesia, the world's fourth-largest nation and largest Muslim country, is in disarray. Near anarchy has replaced the authoritarian control imposed for decades by former dictator Suharto. Aceh and Irian Jaya are threatening to secede, while other regions are exploding in paroxysms of ethnic conflict and civil war. Senior police and army officers can't control their troops. After 16 months in office, the democratically elected president,...